EMA Devotions

29/02/2024

Dutch scientist Christian Huygens, the seventeenth-century inventor of the pendulum clock, noticed something in his workshop one day. Despite their different origins, the pendulums of two clocks were swinging in perfect unison. Huygens intentionally staggered the oscillation between the two by resetting one, and when he checked on the clocks later, they had again synchronized themselves. His observation led to the discovery of "entrainment" or "coupled oscillators"— a phenomenon found throughout the natural world whenever two or more oscillating mechanisms or organisms are found in proximity with each other. Simply put, nearness can cause different rhythms to conform to the same beat.

That principle applies not only to the natural realm but also to the spiritual. When our hearts spend time in God's presence, they begin to align with his heart-beat. We begin to feel his feelings, to love what he loves and hate what he hates. We develop the same motives and will. We conform to his image through gazing at him and enjoying his fellowship. In other words, we think, feel, and move in rhythm with him.

Think about what that means for your relationship with others and your ability to represent God's nature. For one thing, you begin to see the world as he sees it, to love with his compassion, and to long for people to know their Creator the way you have experienced him. For another, you begin to look like him, to carry something of the divine nature within yourself (2 Peter 1:4), to embody the wisdom, power, and love of your Father (Ephesians 3:17-19). On both counts-your relationship with the world and its perceptions of you—you begin to step into the image of God with which you were first endowed and in which you are now being renewed. Your intimacy with the Father has a profound impact on the picture others have of him. And your own heartbeat can lead them into an encounter with him.

”God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.“
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬

28/02/2024

Silver and Gold made the Spanish empire rich. Considered valuable because of their relative scarcity and ability to resist decay, these precious metals were also symbolic of several ideals: elegance, status, longevity, even eternity. They were the noble metals, signs of regal abundance. So in the age of discovery and exploration, when new passageways to Europe's east and west were established and Spain was rapidly conquering much of the Americas, silver and gold became its ultimate goal. The wealth of the empire became paramount.

Of course, nothing in this world lasts forever-not kingdoms and empires, nor eras of abundance, nor silver and gold themselves. Even so, citizens of this world are easily captivated by its precious substances: wealth, status, power, influence, pleasure, and more. These may be given to us by our Creator to enjoy—in measure—but not to compete for or hoard in some desperate effort to exalt ourselves and maximize our experiences. In fact, these riches are usually given as pictures of something greater or as tastes of promises more real. But our hearts tend to cling to lesser realties that our eyes can see rather than the greater ones seen only by eyes of faith. We tend to go after whatever looks like the sure thing.

We need to reconsider what "the sure thing" is. When we find more joy in concrete but momentary pleasures than we do in a relationship that lasts forever, we make a disappointing statement to the people around us, many of whom are looking for a more fulfilling life. On the other hand, when we find more joy in God and his Kingdom than we do in the fleeting treasures of this world, the statement we make is even more profound. We point to eternal realities that are truer than silver and gold—and far more lasting.

”Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.“
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭20‬

27/02/2024

When pioneer missionary Hudson Taylor began to "turn Chinese"-in dress, language, and mannerisms—he was doing much more than attempting gimmicks. Many of his fellow missionaries looked down on his efforts, but Taylor's approach was not unlike the one taken by the incarnate Word many centuries ago. God clothed himself in flesh (1 Timothy 3:16), divested himself of divine privilege by taking the form of a man (Philippians 2:7); and entered into our world born of a woman (Galatians 4:4). Why? Because words had not been enough to portray the Father accurately or to change our nature. The Son, the perfect image of the Father and the carrier of the Spirit, was. Humanity didn't need another sermon or moral lesson. We needed a picture we could relate to. We needed to know what the divine life looks like in a human being.

Taylor took Christianity into inland China in a form Chinese people could relate to, not only by preaching in their language, but by demonstrating a devoted life in their culture. In some areas of the country, he was the first to do so and was a rare example of the wisdom, power, and love of the Spirit. Today, he is an example of what is called "incarnational missions"-the method initiated by God himself in sending his Son.

This method is not limited to God and missionaries. It is actually the kind of influence he calls all of us to have. When Jesus told his followers to go into the world in the same way his Father had sent him (John 20:21), this is what he meant. The gospel that begins with God in the flesh of his Son ends with the Spirit in the flesh of those who believe in the Son. It's an amazing opportunity to take the presence of God with you into every corner of your world—to make your home in the world because God has made his home in you.

”So the Word became human and made his home among us.“
‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

26/02/2024

JONAH was given an invitation to partner with God in his work—literally an offer he couldn't refuse—but Jonah was terrified of the prospect. We can hardly blame him; most of us today would flee from an opportunity to preach the gospel in the streets of Mecca or to have declared the virtues of democratic liberalism in the Red Square at the height of the Cold War. Jonah's calling had similar connotations, so he ran the other way. He saw God's invitation as a responsibility too overwhelming to follow.

Most of God's invitations aren't quite that extreme, but they do tend to appear disorienting at times. After all, Jesus invitation in Luke 9:23 to take up our cross and die daily carries some pretty radical implications for us. We shouldn't be surprised if God's calling sometimes comes disguised as something we might not like. But even when we don't understand his directions, we have to learn to trust him, knowing his nature is not to harm us but to bless us. We see this often in Scripture. Naaman the Syrian didn't understand Elisha's directions to wash in the Jordan River, but his healing came with obedience (2 Kings 5:9-14). Paul didn't understand why the doors of Asia had closed on him to spread God's message, but Europe was in full view once he turned around (Acts 16:6-10). The first steps of a calling can be difficult, but the last ones are always worth the cost of pressing through the confusion and fear.

Don't make the mistake of assuming God's instructions will always come with a clear view of the end. The fruitfulness and rewards may be hidden from natural eyes, especially at first, and the invitation may not look very appealing at all. But clarity comes along the way, and eventually so do satisfaction and fulfillment. Move toward his instructions, and he will make things clearer as you go. He knows how to lead. Press ahead and expect him to open doors along the way.

The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh.” . . . But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord.
‭‭Jonah‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭3‬

26/02/2024

One of the most colorful characters in literature is Ebenezer Scrooge, a miser whose epiphany—aided by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future—changed his outlook on life and his behavior toward everyone around him. Scrooge had not always been so stern and cold, as readers discover in his vision of Christmas past. He suffered wounds as a young man that hardened his heart and turned him inward as a stingy moneylender. But after his experience one Christmas Eve, he would never be so stern and cold again. In one night, he learned something most of us take a lifetime to understand.

All human beings, including you, are on a desperate search for fulfillment. Our instinct is to seck fulfillment by building ourselves up and gathering into our hearts as much pleasure, experience, pople, and things as we can. It's a fatal instinct, one that will only end in frustration and emptiness—perhaps like that of Scrooge, though we hope not in such extremes. The antidote to this instinct is turning outward, focusing on the needs of others. We seck their fulfillment instead of our own, with discernment and full awareness of who we are as God's beloved children. Luke 6:38 tells us that whatever we give out, we receive back in greater abundance.

This shift from taking in to giving out not only opens the way to your own fulfillment. It also profoundly changes your relationship with those around you and increases your influence in their lives—not for the sake of your own agenda but in representing the compassion and generosity of the Father. Hanging on to your life leaves them and you empty; giving up your life pours into them and lets your heart be filled. The dynamic is a paradox; the fruit is the growth of God's Kingdom in this world. And the opportunity, once you learn to walk in it, is hard to resist.

”If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.“
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭25‬

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

24/02/2024

One of the big debates of the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance periods was whether Christians were to renounce society or engage with it. They asked, Is it better to withdraw into prayer and meditation or get involved in social life, creative activities, business, and politics? Should we have our own parallel institutions and governments or influence the ones that already exist? Is the Kingdom shaped more by contemplatives or activists?

Though none of these is an either/or question, a person's theology inevitably sent him or her in one direction or the other, and this dynamic continues to play out today. Those who are waiting to escape the world through death or rapture will tend to draw near to God by pulling away from the mess of society. Those who envision the return of Jesus and his rule over the nations on earth will tend to prepare for his coming by getting involved. Each kind of believer finds plenty of biblical support, and each views his or her own focus as the essence of true spirituality.

The idea of being salt and light in the world suggests that we are to be engaged with it, of course. So why does James come down so hard on "friendship with the world"? Because there is a difference berween being fully engaged with the world as a compassionate member of society and being ensnared as a lover of its idols. The heart is designed first to love God, then to love other people and the gifts God has given. The issue is whether we receive fulfillment from him or from mundane, temporary experiences and things. Human beings are called to a singular passion for him.

God sets all of his people apart for his purposes, and he guides most of us into occasional seasons of disengagement from outside influences so we can focus on him. But these are usually seasons rather than ongoing lifestyles. Follow the pattern of Jesus in being a friend of sinners (Matthew 11:19; Luke 15:2). Love the world as he does and influence it without adapting to its demands. Be fully engaged—and fully his.

”You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.“
‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬

22/02/2024

Jesus' words to his disciples about salt have historically been interpreted in terms of flavor and preservation-seasoning society and slowing the corruption of the world. But the fertilizing powers of salt were well-known in the ancient world and have been in many cultures since; the right kind of salt in the right measure enhances the soil and makes things grow. When Jesus called his followers "the salt of the earth," he was not only hinting at taste and preservation. Even more so, he seems to have been envisioning his followers as agents of increase. Where traditional interpretations of Jesus' warnings have emphasized the possibility of salt losing taste or flavor, the original language more accurately implies losing potency or effectiveness, or even more literally, being made foolish or becoming nonsensical. Only then does "salt for the soil or for the manure pile" make sense.* If believers are the world's fertilizer, we are meant to be spread throughout the land. We help those around us bear fruit.

You may think your mission in this world is to bear fruit for God's Kingdom, and it is. One of the most significant ways to do that is not to accumulate your own achievements but to enhance the lives of those around you—to seek their fruit more than your own. Too much salt corrodes and destroys; too little accomplishes nothing. But the right amount of you—or, more specifically, the right amount of what God has filled you with and empowered you to do —helps the world flourish. It blows wind in the sails of those around you. It turns you from being one fruitful plant to being the catalyst for a fruitful landscape.

Too many Christians are focused on fulfilling their own little mission, never realizing that their mission is to enhance the mission of their brothers and sisters. Broaden your vision and seek to fertilize the land around you. Serve others by helping them grow.

”“Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”“
‭‭Luke‬ ‭14‬:‭34‬-‭35‬

“Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to he

21/02/2024

One of Moses' greatest challenges in the entire story of the Exodus was the constant complaints he received from his critics. They blamed him for their increasing difficulties in Egypt, for leading them toward certain doom at the edge of the Red Sea, and for practically every moment of hunger, thirst, and hardship in the wilderness. Ultimately, the complainers caused the whole nation to delay its entry into the Promised Land by an entire generation—forty years. God was very displeased with the critical spirit among them.

You are probably well aware that complaining is not a gift of the Spirit. Neither is criticism, cynicism, or contentiousness. Yet in spite of that knowledge, Christians can be remarkably similar to the Israclites and the general population in their ability to criticize and harp on the faults seen in those around them, blame their own circumstances on the decisions of others, and vilify those who don't agree with them. Pastors and other church leaders often lament the amount of criticism directed at them, as if their job is to please everyone; families are divided by the disapproval of a parent, a child, or a sibling; and colleagues avoid coworkers who know only how to complain without offering any solutions. A negative attitude is rarely of benefit to ourselves or anyone around us. In fact, it is not at all a reflection of the God of hope and peace.

Don't get caught up in the spirit of the world, which speaks the language of criticism and complaint far too fluently. You are called to a different way—a different attitude expressed by different words coming from a different heart. People are drawn to a hopeful, encouraging spirit; their insecurities need reassurance from the Spirit of God. You are the vessel for that reassurance. Do everything without criticizing or complaining so others can see the hope—the light of truth—within you.

”Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.“
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭15‬

19/02/2024

Scripture tells us that the spoken word is concrete. It sets things in motion. That's why the blessing Isaac mistakenly gave to Jacob instead of Esau couldn't just be taken back (Genesis 27); the mercenary prophecies of Balaam that so confounded his patron, King Balak, could not be erased with a "never mind" (Numbers 22-23); and the words of prophets actually effected things in spiritual and material realms (Ezekiel 37:1-14). God gave Aaron and his priestly successors a blessing to speak over the people because it actually accomplished something (Numbers 6:22-27). Words sent into the world have the potential to transform it.

That's a lot of power to have, and the temptations to use it selfishly are great— especially in the matter of blessing and cursing the people around us. Clearly, we would want to bless our friends and family, and maybe a few strangers we meet along the way. But our enemies? Our old way of seeing things might tempt us to cast curses on them. But our new vision fills our hearts with a new mercy. Jesus said that loving our enemies and praying for our persecutors makes us like our Father (Matthew 5:44-45), and our transformation into his image will include an entirely new perspective on them. The urge to curse must be overcome by the desire to bless.

In your renewed vision, how do you see your enemies? As adversaries? Or as wounded people acting out of past hurts and abuses, who don't yet know the promise or completeness of God's restoration? Though everyone is responsible for their malicious words and actions, the conditions behind them are usually pitiful. God sees an opportunity to bless and transform. So must we.

Take advantage of that opportunity. Your words of blessing invite God to pursue hearts and change lives. They set in motion profound spiritual effects that may or may not ever be visible to human eyes. Most of all, they reflect the heart of your Father and further his mission in this world.

”Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.“
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭14‬

19/02/2024

Many Christians movements throughout history and today have emphasized the importance of demonstrating love, both within the fellowship and beyond it. This is not surprising; Jesus told his followers to love one another because that love would mark our identity in him. In response, Christians consciously try to be an example to the world so it will see the gospel within them. The motive is good—to follow Jesus' instructions and offer a meaningful testimony-and the outcome is sometimes effective. But the entire focus leads to one big, unsettling question: Why?

Why do Christians love others out of obligation? Why don't we love because we are loving? Why, when all secular eyes are on us, do we have to remind ourselves that people are watching? Why doesn't love pour out of us whether people are watching or not? In fact, it can. That's the goal. Some of Jesus' instructions focus on how we should behave, but the essence of his teaching was not behavioral. It was directed at the heart, our inner condition, the fallenness that gets us out of sync with God and must be remedied by a supernatural act. When we are born of the Spirit of the God who is love, love ought to come naturally. In our newness, it's who we are. If God is love and we are becoming like him, then we are love.

This issue highlights the difference between religion and relationship, between regulating behavior and living from the new nature. The gospel of "do" monitors our actions; the gospel of "be" doesn't have to. The path from one to the other is a process, and we may find ourselves reverting to the former when necessary. But the goal is transformation—or, as Paul puts it, really loving people without hypocrisy. Our renewal changes the way we see people. Love becomes our natural bent toward believers, along with those who do not believe as we do. The change in us does not end with us. Only real love can flow into others' lives.

”Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.“
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.

18/02/2024

At every level, the human body is a highly complex machine. Proteins and ribosomes within cells are remarkably intricate structures that work together to accomplish a wide range of functions; organs are made up of billions of cells all working together for one purpose; and the body itself is a highly organized system of interdependent organs and components that function as one coordinated unit. As the psalmist wrote, we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14, ESV).

It's no wonder, then, that believers in Jesus are described in the New Testament as the body of Christ. Our wide variety of differences actually serves a purpose. There are some aspects of God you will never see unless you experience them through other believers; and there are some aspects of him other believers will never see unless they experience them through you. We each relate to God individually and can worship him on our own-to a point. But solo spirituality is always limited. No one has every gift, every story to tell, or every perspective. Unless we experience God in fellowship with others, we will never experience him as fully as he wants us to.

That has huge implications for our testimony in society. If we continue to see ourselves as divided personalities all trying to convince others of the right or normal way to be a Christian, we will have limited impact on the world we live in. If, how-ever, we are able to see each other as vital assets in the functioning of one large unit, we may learn to maximize each other's gifts, build each other up, and form a coordinated representation of the image of God. One approach points to Christianity as a highly debatable idea and fragmented religion; the other points to Jesus as the head of a spiritual body. The divided approach fits within human explanations; the latter is unexplainable apart from supernatural power. The church has an ever-open opportunity to choose which kind of organism it will be, and the world is always watching.

”In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.“
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭6‬

17/02/2024

The Roman Church seems to have been divided. Jewish believers who had led the church but were exiled from Rome around AD 49 (Acts 18:2) returned to find their leadership unwelcomed. Gentile Christians, who led the church in their absence, may have seen themselves as the new chosen people, while Jewish believers prided themselves on their long history as God's original chosen ones. When Paul warned the congregation's members not to see themselves as better than they really were, he was likely addressing this sense of superiority as well as their tendency to rank spiritual gifts in a hierarchy of importance. In any case, Paul says, their true worship of God—as living sacrifices offered in gratitude—should lead them to honest self-perception.

We can take Paul's instructions in the other direction to address another problem many of us have: seeing ourselves through eyes of guilt and shame, listening to voices from the past that remind us of how we've messed up, or believing voices about the future that hint at the inevitability of disappointment. Just as we should never exaggerate our own self-image, neither should we minimize it. One attitude offends those around us; the other fails to share the extravagant love of God with them. We are to measure ourselves with God-given faith because we are to see ourselves as God sees us.

That's the bottom line. Any self-image that is more or less than who we really are is essentially disagreement with God. On one hand, you are only one of many people extravagantly loved by God, which gives you no basis for elevating yourself above them. On the other hand, you are loved beyond your wildest imagination, which gives you no basis for minimizing your own gifts and value. Those around you need to see the love of God for you, and they need to see it coming through you. A true self-perception enables you to embody both.

”Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.“
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselv

15/02/2024

Jesus told a parable about three servants who were given a portion of their master's money to steward. Two invested the money and earned increases, but one hid it away to preserve it, arguing that he knew the master to be "a hard man" (Luke 19:21). Of the parable's many messages, one is that our perception of God determines whether we live with hope or fear, whether we will feel free in his presence or captive to his demands. How we see him affects our entire lives.

Many people have jaundiced views of God. They understand him to be a judge or hard master, the relative who always gives you what you need for your birthday but never what you want, the parent always pushing vegetables without ever offering dessert. Whether from bad experience, bad theology, or a little of both, these people live with the expectation that God will disappoint them. Even if they remain religious, they don't remain devoted. They have lost their joy.

Scripture shows us a different picture of God —the winsome kindness of Jesus, the jealous lover in passionate pursuit of his beloved, the delighted parent singing over his child. This is the extravagant love that compels us to offer ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice. Every time we think we have a handle on God, he turns and shows a new face—not one inconsistent with what he has already revealed, but one that shines on another facet of his nature. And it's always beautiful.

The world does not know this God. You do, or at least you are growing in your knowledge of him. Do you see the gap that needs to be filled? God is not going to fill it unilaterally. He is going to move his people—including you—into it through the power that works within you. Offer yourself to this God and show the world his welcoming expression. Unravel the myth of the hard master. Live as a worshiper for all the world to see.

”And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.“
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is tru

14/02/2024

One of the most common complaints against Christianity is its historical record. Catholics are blamed for atrocities during the Crusades, inquisitions during the Counter-Reformation, and forced conversions in the settling of the New World. Protestants are blamed for violence in the Thirty Years' War, the N**i movement, and the Ku Klux Klan. Jesus was responsible for none of these events, of course, and neither were Christians who followed his teachings closely. But the distortions stand out, and the entire faith is colored by them.

How were professing Christians able to commit such un-Christian acts? Their hearts were not transformed. They claimed a set of beliefs and were culturally Christian but didn't resemble Christ. Regardless of what their mouths confessed, they followed the ways of the world.

Doctrine and beliefs are not in themselves transforming. If we want to be like Jesus and follow him, we will need to have our minds renewed. The gospel is much more than a behavior-modification program; it's an inward renovation so dramatic that it is best described as a death and rebirth. Anything less leads to the same frustrations all religious people feel when they fall short of their high standards.

The transforming power of the gospel changes the way we see and think. It changes our perceptions of God, ourselves, other believers, nonbelievers, and even our enemies. It undoes our old agendas and gives us a new purpose. It erodes our old nature and fills our hearts with the nature of God. It rearranges our relationships in the most satisfying ways possible. But only if we let it.

So let it. Surrender your will daily to the power of the Spirit. Let God be salt and light to your soul so you can be salt and light to your world. Let go of the old, and live in the newness God promises.

”Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.“
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing